Delhi Jal Board clears ₹4,500 crore Yamuna clean-up: 15 new sewage plants, expanded network
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has approved Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth nearly ₹4,500 crore, which include 15 new decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), expansion of sewer networks, upgradation of existing STPs, and sludge management facilities. Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh announced the decision on Wednesday, framing it as part of a broader infrastructure push to clean the river.
“People often ask when the Yamuna will become clean. The answer lies in building the right infrastructure. When the present government assumed office, the sewage treatment capacity stood at only 749 million gallons per day (MGD), leaving a substantial treatment gap. Now, we plan to increase it to 1,041 MGD,” Mr. Singh said.
According to the Minister, after these approvals, Delhi will have 28 DSTPs under implementation — comprising 13 approved earlier and 15 newly awarded projects. DSTPs are considered crucial for cleaning the Yamuna, as they are expected to treat sewage generated in several unauthorised colonies that currently flows into the river due to the absence of sewer networks. By treating sewage close to the source of generation, the government intends to reduce the dependence on long-distance transport of sewage through extensive pipelines.
Currently, Delhi’s 37 larger STPs are located in distant parts of the city and require sewage to be transported through extensive sewer networks for treatment. DSTPs, in contrast, will be built on smaller parcels of land and linked to clusters of nearby unauthorised colonies, an official explained.
In addition to sewage infrastructure, the Minister said the government had approved a project to revive and restore the Wazirabad Pondage Area to enhance raw water storage. “This would increase the holding capacity of the pond area from one day to two-three days,” he said. The government will also install 250 water ATMs at an estimated cost of ₹58 crore.
The approvals come amid ongoing pressure to address pollution in the Yamuna. In July last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting on the rejuvenation of the river and directed the Delhi government to nearly double its sewage treatment capacity to 1,500 MGD by 2028. The current plan of 1,041 MGD falls short of that target, but officials said the newly approved projects are a step toward bridging the gap.
The DJB’s move is part of a phased approach to improve Delhi’s water infrastructure. While the immediate focus is on increasing treatment capacity and expanding networks, the long-term objective remains restoring the river’s health. The success of these projects will depend on timely execution and coordination between various agencies, including the Delhi government, municipal bodies, and the DJB.
Officials did not provide a detailed timeline for completion of the newly approved projects, but said work would begin soon. The expansion of sewer networks is expected to bring more unauthorised colonies under the formal sewage treatment system, directly reducing the discharge of untreated waste into the Yamuna.
Environmental experts and civic groups have repeatedly stressed that cleaning the river requires not only infrastructure but also sustained maintenance and monitoring. The DJB’s latest approvals are seen as a positive step, though the broader challenge of ensuring clean water flows and preventing future pollution remains.
